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On Tuesday 11th November, the Maltese Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem celebrated its annual Requiem Mass for the souls of the departed members of the Order in the chapel of St. Francis School Sliema. The Requiem Mass was celebrated by Mgr. Lawrence Mifsud KHS.

Bishop Charles Caruana celebrated 50 years as a priest on Sunday, May 24. His Golden Jubilee Day held much significance for him as it was on this same date he also made his First Communion, and then many years later he was made Bishop of Gibraltar – eleven years ago in 1998.

“The last 50 years have flown. It has felt like a dream because it has gone so fast,” said Bishop Caruana.

ENRICHING

Describing the past 50 years as enriching and a most adventurous time, he said.

“I can only say what a marvellous thing it has been to be a priest all this time. For me it has been a continuous experience of admiration for the people I have served. I have no regrets.”

Bishop Caruana has served in Gibraltar throughout this time, and it is the people, his congregation, which he emphasises have been his inspiration throughout these short 50 years.

“It has been beautiful to serve in this community, I would not change it for the world and I would do it all again.

“People are so good, wonderful and inspiring. Life can be so difficult and yet their resignation and the tremendous way in which people overcome their troubles and sufferings has been an inspiration for me.

“One has to seek new ways and means of guiding and helping each and every person. Each person is different in their needs and in their way of being. Bringing about reconciliation between parents and children, between couples, that is not always easy. But the way people live their lives, the way they overcome what life puts before them is an inspiration.”

THE EARLY YEARS

Bishop Caruana was born October 9th 1932 and was educated by the Christian Brothers. It was his grandfather Joseph who influenced him especially in his formative years.

“There was always something there. My grandfather’s spirituality, religiosity, he was a person who was always very devotional. And without my knowing I was led into that upbringing so much so that people used to tell me that when I went back home after mass I would play at Mass in my grandfather’s house imitating the priests that I saw at the altar when he took me to hear Mass in the Cathedral. He used to go five times a day to Mass and Church”.

During the Second World War he was evacuated with his family to London and later to Northern Ireland.

“I suppose the Christian Brothers, instilled in me a need for dedication and a life of service. But it wasn’t easy. I liked dancing, I liked all social activities. And before I decided to join the priesthood I went through a time of trial and of testing myself to see if this was what I really wanted to do so”.

He carried out his military service. He worked as a Civil Servant for the Government in the Labour Employment Department which at the time was based at Casemates before studying for the Priesthood.

“There was a need to make a choice. It was either to dedicate myself to married life or to the service of the people. And I felt the need for helping people was greater. I felt a need to know more about God’s presence and his love”.

Once he took the decision he never once thought he had made the wrong choice. As he said, “once I took it I stuck by it”.

Surprisingly some of his close friends who also went to study for the priesthood whilst he was still making his mind up gave it up.

“It took me a long time to decide. I did not enter the priesthood until I was 21, and yet none of my friends today are priests today and I am”.

And contemplating on what he just said he added:

“When you dedicate yourself totally to the service of God in the seminary itself you wonder if you have done everything you could possibly do. At this point the temptation to become a monk may overtake you as well. Now that is far more delicate a decision than between ‘a right and a wrong’ or between being married or being a priest”.

WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY

Charles Caruana was ordained a Priest in 1959 by Bishop Healy. His first pastoral assignment was to the cathedral as junior curate. In 1965 was assigned to the Sacred Heart Church and appointed Parish Priest a few years later by Bishop Rapallo.

In 1975, the bishop, transferred him to the Cathedral as Administrator.

Bishop Devlin, on his appointment as Bishop of Gibraltar, made him his vicar General, when he was created a Domestic Prelate by Pope John Paul II, with the title of Monsignor.

“My life as a priest has been very enriching and very full. I have no moments of regret. I have lived a very full life. But perhaps my one regret is that I did not become a priest sooner.”

As a priest he has always worked in all areas of Gibraltar’s social life, always very much involved in the community.

For 12 years he was Chaplain of St Bernard’s Hospital, and a member of the Board of Visitors for 17 years.

For over a decade he was the Prison Chaplain.

From his earliest priestly days he was involved with the youth on the Rock and worked with the Young Christian Workers, leading them to a number of European Congress in places like Cordoba, Pau and Strasbourg.

But he is perhaps better known for his cultural, musical activities and has always been involved in many social events.

He was the backbone of the Gibraltar Song festival from 1966 to 1976, and was instrumental in the creation of the Gibraltar Music Centre. He was the representative in Gibraltar for the Associated board of the Royal Schools of Music for 15 years. And organiser of Arts Festival in 74/75. And he was also there when the Catholic Community Centre was built.

“I suppose my involvement in the community grew over the years. In 1962 Father Rapallo, who accompanied bishop Healy to the Second Vatican Council, needed help with the raising of the funds for the Catholic Community Centre and I was able to help out. We organised many events. The first ‘champagne style fashion shows’ were organised for example. It was then that I realised I could organise large events but I also noticed there was a great need for such events as well. By that time I was already involved with the Young Christian Workers. Community work in the life of a priest is very important, People need leadership and some recreational leadership as well.

By that time the Agrupacion Calpense had died away and we needed new things – and there you had the start of the Gibraltar Song Festival”.

The Gibraltar Song Festival grew into an International Festival within a few years.

He recalled: “At the time San Remo was the main Song Festival and when we were raising funds for the Community Centre I suggested we had a local show. I called Pepe Noguera, Wilfred Marsh, Francis Caruana, Mario Mifsud and together we were able to create the Gibraltar Song Festival which lasted 12 years”.

It was the Performing Rights Society in the UK which helped to then set up the Gibraltar Music Centre.

In the past he has led arbitration teams when negotiations between the Government and the Unions came to a deadlock in certain industrial and other disputes, for example, at the Prison, Generating Station and Medical Department.

Since 1970 Monsignor Caruana has been involved in the renewal movements within the Catholic Church.

He was instrumental in the beginnings of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, the Cursillo Movement and other movements of renewal.

For over 20 years he organised the diocesan Pilgrimages to Lourdes.

He helped in the creation of Camp Emmanuel and was instrumental in setting up the Nazareth Home, and also the Dr Giraldi Home.

KNIGHT OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE

A few years ago he was invested Chaplain to the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, and lately, he was invested by Prince Philip as Chaplain of the Order of St John.

Apart from music and reading his other interest, known to just a few, is carpentry.

BISHOP OF GIBRALTAR

In 1998 he became Bishop of Gibraltar. For eleven years he continues his work as Bishop as he began when he became a priest 50 years ago by serving the people both spiritually and socially, determined to be both a strong leader and good shepherd.

The Church he said is constantly meeting new challenges. He believes the church needs to modernise into the future.

“We have to adapt and change and give people what they need to live a dignified life. Help them obtain peace and justice and harmony. There is always room for God but there are those who don’t know this or don’t want to accept it.”

He believes that because we are living at a time when communication is so fast, so at hand, making contact between people so much easier, this has allowed for secularism and relaxtivism.

“People are given the impression that they are self-sufficient, and that they don’t need God. But this is not so.”

He tells me it is not an easy thing to admit but people turning away from the Church is a phenomenon which has occurred in his life time.

“People abandon and relax themselves from a way of life which they had before, everything has changed whereas before God may have been first or second now he has been reduced to 9th or 10th place, if at all in their lives – this is a reality which one has to recognise.”

He also admits he it can been disheartening but at the same time as people are falling by the wayside for a very long time, he says, the Church in Gibraltar has made a tremendous effort to renew Christian living.

“We have alerted people to an awareness of the presence of God through the various movements in the Church, and there are people coming back to the church.”

But the Church, he adds, needs to be constantly on the move meeting the new frontiers, the challenges imposed by this new millennium – confident that all will be overcome and people will find a way back to the Church.

Of his eleven years as Bishop he first pointed to the team of priests presently in the Diocese without whom he said he would not have been able to achieve anything. Meeting as often as he can with them there is always much to discuss. He recognised the tremendous work they each carry out.

But he said the Church in Gibraltar needed more priests to attend to schools more regularly, for pastoral care, for those seeking advice and counselling, in the administration of the Church, and of course for the functions of the Church, Mass and confessions, etc.

As he looked back on the highlights of the past 50 years, he remained silent for a long time.

“Everything has been a highlight, the whole of my life, everyday as a priest is a highlight.”

But there have been very many touching moments, when he became Bishop of Gibraltar, when he ordained his first priest Father Michael Bonifacio, but he quickly turned to the 700 years of Devotion to Our Lady of Europe and its celebrations.

“The attendance was tremendous. To see them in the impressive marquee joining in the celebration this was special. This was a very touching moment because of the work which had led us there had come to fruition. It was a great achievement.

“The celebration itself gathering momentum, like a crescendo leading to the presentation of The Golden Rose, and the singing of the Plegaria a La Virgen de Europa by Los Trovadores. This was another touching moment.

“Receiving the Golden Rose showed the greatness that exists locally, the fact that we have been equalled to all the important Shrines such as Lourdes, that this is a Shrine of Our Lady, now recognised as an important historical Christian monument which deserved the proper attention.”

And as he looked to the future, he hinted at retirement. Could a new Bishop be announced soon he was asked, a possibility he does not rule out but he quickly adds.

“If it is felt I still have more to contribute I will carry on.”

He suggested maybe Rome has allowed him the chance to celebrate his Golden Jubilee, waiting for these celebrations to pass by before there is any news of his retirement and naming a new Bishop.

But he said even if he does retire his work as a priest will continue in the Diocese.

“I will continue to serve for as long as I can the Diocese and the people.”

This article was first published in the Gibraltar Chronicle by Alice Mascarenhas

It is with great pleasure to inform the general public of the Investiture of seven Knights and two Dames into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.This took place on the 12th September 2009, at the Our Lady of Jesus (Ta’ Giezu,) Church St John Street, Valletta.

The Grand Master of the Order of Malta Fra’ Matthew Festing conferred the insignia of Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion on Cardinal John Patrick Foley, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem . Receiving Cardinal Foley in the Magistral Palace in Rome with Fra’ Matthew Festing were the Pro Patron, Archbishop Paolo Sardi and members of the Order of Malta’s government.

In welcoming the 75-year-old cardinal, head of the ancient institution occupied in welfare work and charitable aid for Catholics in the Holy Land, Fra’ Matthew Festing stressed the especially close relations between the two Orders which “for ten centuries have been serving the universal Church, on the solid basis of the Christian principles of love and charity towards all. In particular our two Orders,” recalled Grand Master Festing, “are both occupied in different ways in the Holy Land, the focus of every Christian’s sentiments and hopes. I hope that in future our Order can unite forces to assist the Christian population in this blessed region”.

In his speech, Fra’ Matthew Festing wanted to “grasp this opportunity to express, on behalf of all the Order of Malta’s members, our profound respect and affection towards the Holy Father Benedict XVI, as well as our gratitude for his valiant defence of the inviolable dignity of each and every person, his respect of fundamental human rights and the apostolic dedication with which he indefatigably serves the Church”.

In conferring the rank of Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion on Cardinal Foley, former chaplain of the Order of Malta since 2002, Grand Master Festing wanted to express the Order’s appreciation for “the concern, consideration and esteem” that the high prelate has always demonstrated towards the Order of Malta in supporting “with devotion our joint efforts in the pastoral work of promoting the Petrine ministry”.

Cardinal Foley was accompanied by the Order of the Holy Sepulchre’s highest authorities: Lieutenant General Peter Wolff Metternich zur Gracht, Governor General Agostino Borromeo and Vice Governor General Adolfo Rinaldi.

August 23, 2010. The Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre is one of the top Catholic organizations helping the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Agostino Borromeo, the Governor General of the Order monitors the activities of the Knights and assesses the needs and assistance that can be provided in the Holy Land.

Agostino Borromeo
Governor General, Order of the Holy Sepulchre
“The Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem has medieval origins. It is a lay Catholic association whose superior is a Cardinal Grand Master, appointed by the Pope. The Order has around 27,000 members worldwide, dedicated to helping promote Catholic support and development initiatives in the Holy Land.”

Christians are a minority in the Holy Land, numbering around 400,000 of its 16 million inhabitants. And given the diminishing numbers of Christians in Israel and Palestine, those left behind often prefer to emigrate to countries with greater economic and social stability.

As a minority, Christians have almost no representation in civilian life. Therefore, the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre work especially in supporting Christians in the Holy Land, especially through education and job creation to help develop and sustain a decent standard of living inspired by Christan values.

One of the main activities of the Order is to support Catholic schools. Institutions recognized for their quality as some of the best in the area include the Catholic University of Bethlehem and Catholic schools of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Agostino Borromeo
Governor General, Order of the Holy Sepulchre
“It’s important to know that there are also non-Christians who study in these schools. Sometimes there is a majority of Muslim students. These schools are places where people learn to dialogue and know each other better. Future leaders are formed inthis schools – both Christians and non-Christians who know each other and have to respect each other – a basis for working together to build a better future for all marked by justice and peace.”

In the last 10 years the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre have spent more than $ 60 million to support these educational projects. It’s an investment for a better and brighter future for Christians and non Christians alike in the Holy Land.

Dear Ladies and Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and friends of the Order, the Cardinal Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, John Patrick Foley has retired due to ill health.

In September 2009, he was diagnosed with leukemia and anemia. “It’s been getting progressively worse, and I get weaker,” Cardinal Foley said. “I didn’t have the energy to perform my duties.”

Vatican diplomat born in ¯ejtun, Mgr. Gerada studied at the Lyceum, the Seminary, and the RUM where he graduated BA (1939) and was awarded a licentiate in theology in 1946. Mgr. Gerada was ordained priest by Bishop Mgr. Emmanuel Galea on 1st August 1943. He pursued further studies at Nottingham University College in 1944.

Mgr. Gerada obtained his doctorate in canon law from the Gregorian University in 1952 and pursued a course leading to diplomatic service with the Holy See at the Pontificia Accademia Ecclesiastica in Rome. He was appointed attaché to the apostolic internunciature in Egypt in 1952 and private chamberlain to the Pope in 1953. He was transferred as secretary to the apostolic internunciature in India, and appointed secretary to the nunciature in Dublin in 1956 – on the death of the nuncio, he also performed the duties of chargé d’affaires. His next appointments were that of auditor of the nunciature and chargé d’affaires in Tokyo (1960 – 64). He was later posted to the apostolic delegation in Mexico.

In 1965 Mgr. Gerada was appointed counsellor of the nunciature and domestic prelate by Paul VI and in 1966 chargé d’affaires at Kigali, Rwanda.

On 18 June 1967, Mgr. Gerada was consecrated titular bishop of Nomentum by Archbishop Mgr. Michael Gonzi and appointed as his auxiliary. After a year, Mgr. Gerada was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Malta.

In 1973 Mgr. Gerada resumed his career in the Holy See’s diplomatic service; on his appointment as apostolic nuncio to El Salvador and Guatemala.

Mgr. Gerada’s next postings were those of apostolic nuncio to Pakistan (1980) and Ireland (1989). He retired in Malta in 1995 and was appointed the first Grand Prior of the Maltese Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He passed away on the 21st January 2011.